Toronto Raptors five games to watch in 2013-2014

The Toronto Raptors have been active this offseason, starting at the top of the organization with the dismissal of Bryan Colangelo as GM and Masai Ujiri appointed as his replacement. The idea of a potential rebrand has been floated by new MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiwke and Ujiri has already made significant changes to the roster.

The NBA schedule was released on Tuesday and here are five games to watch in 2013-2014, highlighted by the return of old friends and an ever-expanding list of Canadian basketball stars.

Wednesday, October 30th 2013 - Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors

There's plenty going on around the Raptors' home opener and the first game of the season.

Since the start of the 2007-2008 season, the first year that Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen played together in Boston, the Raptors are 5-19 against the Celtics. Those three are gone as Boston enters a rebuilding phase, setting up a new era of Celtics basketball.

In addition, 2013 first round pick Kelly Olynyk, born in Toronto and raised in Kamloops, B.C., gets to experience his Canadian homecoming game the same night he makes his regular season NBA debut - that's pretty cool.

Saturday, December 28th 2013 - New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors

The game that Raptors fans have been waiting for since early in the offseason... it's the much anticipated return of Andrea Bargnani!

Bargnani will face his former team for the first time the night before at Madison Square Garden but when he takes the court at the Air Canada Centre as a member of the New York Knicks, one would expect the former first overall pick who spent seven frustrating seasons in Toronto to receive a slightly hostile reaction.

Sunday, January 19th 2014 - Los Angeles Lakers at Toronto Raptors

The Lakers' luster dulled last season when the team sludged to a first round sweep after an offseason of major expectations. Since then Dwight Howard went to Houston and Kobe Bryant injured his Achilles but it's still a big deal when Steve Nash comes to town.

One year remains on Nash's contract beyond next season, but at 39-years-old, the opportunities are dwindling to watch Canada's greatest basketball talent on the court.

Wednesday, January 22nd 2014 - Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors

The vitriol towards Vince Carter has lessened as the years have gone by but there's still a contingent of the Raptors' fan base that harbours resentment their former franchise player. It's been almost nine years since Carter was traded to the then New Jersey Nets and it remains a move that still defines Toronto throughout the league.

Maybe Carter can give Bargnani a call and let him know what he's in for. I'm sure he, Chris Bosh, and Hedo Turkoglu appreciate the company.

Friday, February 21st 2014 - Cleveland Cavaliers at Toronto Raptors

2013 first overall pick and Brampton native Anthony Bennett has to wait until February before making his homecoming visit to Toronto as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He can ask fellow Brampton native and Cavaliers teammate Tristan Thompson for advice on how to handle the trip back home.

It's a great opportunity to watch two of Canada's up and coming basketball standouts.